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Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Review: A Great Bite

By Michael Block

Through brilliant storytelling, The Vampire’s Last Bite tells the fantastical tale of a young boy who sets out on an adventure to discover the truth about his family. Written and performed by the astonishing Martin J. Flowers, The Vampire’s Last Bite is a whimsical narrative that subtly incorporates LGBTQ themes in beautiful fashion. Imagine a Harry Potter world surrounded by gnomes, vampires, and gay uncles. That's the world of Flowers’ story. The play has classic fairy tale charm with modern themes that are married perfectly. From stage to page, Flowers is a wondrous storyteller. With fun alliteration and captivating sensibility, he sells his story. If you gave him the phone book to read, it would be mesmerizing.
This story isn't always the easiest to grasp with the plethora of characters, many of who have fantastical names. At times it hurts when you're trying to keep track of the fast-paced action. In this format, it's simply not enough. We want more! Puppets or ensemble movement, something to accompany Flowers and his story would elevate it to great heights. It's already in a great place and can be even better.
Where Flowers did step up the solo act was through the musical accompaniment from C. David Morrow. The soundtrack was evocative, allowing the mood to be set. Director Joseph Hayward helped Flower on his journey, navigating the five tree stump set. Though you wouldn't be alone if you worried Flowers would fall as he sat on the stacked stumps.The Vampire’s Last Bite is a diamond in the rough at FringeNYC. It's exquisitely unassuming. You'll be pleasantly surprised with this one.